THE Hamilton Green Cup Inter-Ward/Village 9-a-side knockout football tournament starts this Sunday, April 7 and will conclude on April 28 with the semifinals and final at the Den Amstel ground, venue for all the matches.

Action starts at 15:00hrs and coordinator Lennox Arthur, former National Football player and coach, is asking all teams to be at the venue by 14:00hrs to ensure all games start on time and proceedings are completed in a timely fashion.

The opening salvo of games, 16 of them, will see Vergenoegen vs Timehri, Soesdyke vs Jetty, De Kinderen vs Liliendaal, Kuru Kururu vs Stewartville, Charlestown vs Zeelugt, North East La Penitence vs Agricola, Sara Lodge vs Mocha, Goed Fortuin vs Back Street Kings, Bagotville vs Sophia, Wales vs Mahaica, Plaisance vs Belle West Stars, Kitty vs Sparta Family, Mahaicony vs Crane, Pouderoyen vs Vreed-en-Hoop, Uitvlugt vs Lima Dam and Den Amstel vs West Side Masters.

The teams will be battling for a chance to claim the John Fernandes $300 000 first prize and Prime Minister Trophy along with hampers from Ricks and Sari. The second-placed team will take away the Courtney Benn-sponsored $100 000, third $60 000 put up by Techno Mills and fourth $40 000 donated by Ready Mix, along with the respective trophies. All the trophies have been sponsored by Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo.

Also at stake are the individual rewards for the Most Goals/MVP who will take home a Dinette Chair from China Trading and a Lazy Boy chair from AH&L Kissoon, along with the Best Goalkeeper who will claim the Minister of Natural Resources Trophy.

Among the sponsors so far are Techno Mills, Ready Mix, Sataur Gafoor, EC Vieira, BEV Enterprises, BK International, IPA, Top Brandz, New Thriving, Ricks and Sari, E-Networks, Star Computers, NAMILCO, Cummings Electrical, National Sports Commission, Star Entertainment, Alfro Alphonso, the Guyana Police Force, Ministry of State, Prime Minister and Ministry of Legal Affairs.

Arthur has expressed gratitude to these businesses and entities and also thanked those who have promised and are expected to come forward officially in the coming week. He has been staging tournaments in recognition of former Mayor of Georgetown and Prime Minister of Guyana, Hamilton Green for a number of years now.

The defending champions of this tournament are Charlestown who beat Uitvlugt to claim the $400 000 prize and Ministry of Citizenship Trophy last time around. Uitvlugt took the John Fernandes Trophy and $200 000 for their efforts back then.

With the involvement of the lead players emerging from the various areas and villages/wards, the event is playing its part in aiding Social Cohesion among the citizenry. The players on show Sunday will include Sheldon Toney, Ruel Charter, Leroy Halley and Kenroy D’Aguiar.

Teams are reminded to be at the venue for 15:00hrs next Sunday. Four substitutions are permitted in this format which will see the games being run for 30 minutes, broken into halves. The tournament will be played in the knockout format, with winners advancing to the next round.

Sudden-death penalties will be used to separate the sides in the event of a draw at the end of full time. The no-offside rule is also in effect. All other rules will come under the dictates of FIFA.